Rents are 3% below what East Chicago's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,040 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in East Chicago is 1.3% below its high of $1,054 in July 2026, at $1,040 as of September 2026.
Rent in East Chicago changed +3.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 49 Indiana cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.5%.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($42,125) is $1,053 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($930); a 3-bedroom is $1,150.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for East Chicago. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
East Chicago, IN is majority renter-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 10.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How East Chicago, IN has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in East Chicago, IN paid around $855 a month. That figure now sits near $1,040, up 21.6% from the 2023 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $37,807 in 2021 to $42,125 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show East Chicago, IN losing about 480 residents over the five-year window, down 1.8% on net. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the East Chicago, IN market of 2023.
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Can you afford rent in East Chicago on your salary?
At $1,040/mo, how East Chicago rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
East Chicago rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in East Chicago. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in East Chicago
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in East Chicago is $1,040/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $670/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $930/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $770/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,150/mo.
At 30% of local median household income ($42,125/yr), East Chicago ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in East Chicago?
Is rent going up or down in East Chicago?
How does East Chicago rent compare to other cities in Indiana?
At $1,040/mo, rent takes ~30% of East Chicago's median household income ($42,125/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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